John s



(NqModeL) I J BIRCH.

LEAD AND GRAION HOLDER.

Patented Nov. 7, 1882-.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. BIRCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,134, dated November 7, 1882.

Application filed January 5, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN S. BIRCH, of New York, county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lead and Crayon Holders, of which the following is aspecification.

In this improved lead and crayon holder the invention consists of a spring bearing against the side of the lead or crayon to secure and keep it in position by the friction thereby produced, which said spring is made by the operator to turn or swing partially around the axis of the case against a ledge of the lead or crayon holding tube, or it may be any other equivalent device on which the pressure is expended, so as to release the lead or crayon for adjustment, and when released by the operator said spring is returned by its own tension or by the aid of another spring to its bearing position again for holding the lead or crayon, all as hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved lead or crayon holder. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, showing the application of a retracting-spring. Fig. 3 is a transverse section.

A represents the exterior tube forming the case or handle, which is considerably larger than the lead or crayon except at the lower end, which is suitably tapered at B to control the pointof the lead or crayon G in use.

D is the lead or crayon holding tube, located in the center of the case and being only slightly larger than the lead or crayon to allow it to slide freely.

E is the binding-spring, which I employ to press against the side of the lead or crayon and bear it against tube D, to hold it in position by friction. Said spring is attached to a ring or collar, F, fitted on the exterior of the case A, so as to be readily turned partially around it by the thumb and finger of the operator. The spring projects through a slot, J,

L of slot G in tube D, to which the pressure is transferred, aswill be readily understood by examination of Fig.3 of the drawings. By releasing the collar F the spring will shift it backward until said spring bears against the lead, which it will then bind fast again; but, if desired, another spring, M, coiled around inside of the caseand attached by one end to the collar and by the other end to the case, or otherwise suitably arranged, may be used for retracting the collar and restoring the pressure upon the lead or crayon, or for assisting in the same.

Instead of arranging the binding-spring to work through a notch in tube D, it may be located below the end of said tube, the latter being shortened a little, or it may be so as to press and bind the lead against the small part B of the case, with any suitable stop fixed to act in the place of shoulder L. In practice the upper end of the tube will he closed with acap in any approved way.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The collar F, fitted to turn on case A, and having spring E attached to it and bearing on the lead through notch Got the lead-tube, said collar also having spring M attached to it and causing spring E to bind the lead, and allowing said binding to be suspended, substantially as described.

' JOHN S. BIRCH. Witnesses:

W. J. MORGAN, S. H. MORGAN. 

